Definition

Proper noun: * Belgrade: The capital and largest city of Serbia. It is situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers.

Usage

• Belgrade is used as the name of a specific city. It functions as a proper noun and is always capitalized.
• Example: "Our flight arrived in Belgrade late in the evening."
• Example: "The history of Belgrade spans over two millennia."

Advanced Usage

• "The Belgrade of the 1990s": Used to specify the city during a particular historical period, often referring to a time of conflict and sanctions.
  • Example: "His memoirs describe life in the Belgrade of the 1990s."
• In geopolitical or historical contexts, it can be used metonymically to represent the Serbian government or state.
  • Example: "The agreement was signed in Belgrade." (The signing physically occurred in the city, but the phrase can imply the Serbian state as a party to the agreement.)

Variants and Related Words

• Beograd: The Serbian (Cyrillic: Београд) name for the city, often used in English in historical or cultural contexts.
  • Example: "The fortress is known locally as Kalemegdan, the historic core of Beograd."

Synonyms

• Capital of Serbia: A descriptive synonym.
• (Historical) Capital of Yugoslavia: Refers to its former role.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Gateway to the Balkans": A common epithet for Belgrade due to its strategic location.
  • Example: "Often called the Gateway to the Balkans, Belgrade has long been a cultural crossroads."

Noun

1. capital and largest city of Serbia and Montenegro; situated on the Danube